Dishwashing apparatus



E. J. FESER March 5, 1968 DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l I fuvsNroe MZJM March 5, 1968 E. J. FESER DISHWASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Amen/r02.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,371,370 DISHWASHING APPARATUS Edward J. Feser, 8862 Arcadia Ave, San Gabriel, Calif. 91775 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,730 6 Claims. (Cl. 401-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand operated dishwashing apparatus which is adapted to be attached to a 'source of water and which includes a reservoir of detergent. The apparatus further includes manual control means for positioning within the apparatus and discharging a predetermined amount of detergent into a stream of water adjacent a brush portion of the dishwashing apparatus.

This invention relates to a dishwashing apparatus which can be readily attached to an ordinary faucet, and more particularly a dishwashing apparatus that contains an integral detergent reservoir and manually operable means for releasing a metered amount of detergent.

Prior to my invention dishwashing apparatuses were often comprised of complicated and expensive equipment. Such equipment required special installation and large amounts of detergent, and was both expensive to install and to use. On the other hand, simple brushes did not provide effective mechanically assisted means for Washing dishes.

Hence, there was not available a satisfactory, easily installed, dishwashing apparatus that was self-contained and yet was not a complicated mechanism requiring separate installation and large amounts of detergent to be used during its operation. Therefore, people who did not wish to install a permanently afiixed, complicated mechanism, generally had no suitable apparatus for mechanically washing dishes, and had to resort to ordinary scrub brushes.

It is a primary object of my invention to alleviate these and other disadvantages in the prior art by providing a dishwashing apparatus comprising a combination brush having an integral, controllable detergent reservoir and a means for spraying washing fluid adjacent to the bristles of the brush.

Another object of this invention is to provide dishwashing apparatus which is easy to use, and which does not require complicated installation for its operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide dish- -washing apparatus containing an integrally supported detergent reservoir which can be attached to existing faucets by means of a simple coupling attachment.

A further object of this invention is to provide dishwashing apparatus consisting of a brush with a hollow handle that has a detergent reservoir and means by which the detergent can be supplied in metered quantities.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following illustrative description.

In the drawings, where like numbers refer to like parts thereof:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the dishwashing apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmented cross-sectional view of the adaptor and selector portion of the dishwashing apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional end elevational view of the selector valve taken through 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is another partial sectional end elevational view of the selector valve as illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinally sectional view of the dishwashing apparatus;

3,371,370 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken through 66 in FIGURE the filling valve and finger bar;

FIGURE 7 is another cross-sectional view of the filling valve illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmented enlarged sectional view of the detergent pump portion of the dishwashing apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 9 is another fragmented enlarged sectional view of the detergent pump portion of the dishwashing apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 8, wherein the pump portion is in a different position;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken through 10-10 of FIGURE 8, showing detergent admission and loading ports in the detergent cylinder;

FIGURE 11 is a partially fragmented end view of the spray outlets;

FIGURE 12 is a partially fragmented sectioned view of a modification of the filling portion of the apparatus;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view of a split valve disk taken on line 13-13 in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 is a partial fragmented sectional view of a modification of the end of the detergent reservoir near the spray outlets.

Generally, my dishwashing apparatus includes a brush, a hollow handle element communicating with said brush, and a detergent reservoir formed in said handle element. Remote from the brush, a fluid inlet is provided on the handle element, to which is attached a flexible water conduit. The conduit extends to a valve connected to a water faucet. The valve is preferably adjustable so that water can either be directed through the conduit to the handle element and brush, or through a bypass outlet to a sink.

The handle element also includes a slidable piston movable from a detergent loading position to a detergent mixing positon. The piston pumps fluid detergent from the reservoir in metered amounts to the brush for intermixing with water for the washing operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the brush element is generally designated '12, and the elongated hollow handle element is designated 13.

The brush element 12 includes a mixing chamber 15, having a bottom plate 15a, with spray outlets 16. An outside portion of hollow handle 13 defines the periphery of cylindrical detergent reservoir 18. It surrounds a separate inner hollow portion that includes rigid tube 19. Tube 19 provides a passageway through which washing fluid can flow from fluid inlet 17 to spray outlets 16. Detergent reservoir 18 is closed at its end adjacent brush 12 by muzzle ring 20, and at its other end by a filling valve to be subsequently described. Junction ferrule 22 connects the end of rigid tube 19 near muzzle ring 20 to mixing chamber 15. Fluid leakage is prevented by resilient annular seal 20a surrounding tube 19, and seal 2% peripherally located on muzzle ring 20. Spray outlets 16 from mixing chamber 15 are preferably arranged in a circle and, in turn, are encircled by bristles 23. By means of suitable deflection tabs 24, which restrict spray outlets 16, sprayed fluid from outlets 16 can be directed onto adjacent bristles 23.

A modification of the detergent reservoir end sealing means is shown in FIGURE 14, where a rubber bushing 20c is substituted for muzzle ring 20 and annular seal 2017.

In tube 19, between fluid inlet 17 and spray outlets 16, is a detergent admission port 25 that opens into annular detergent cylinder chamber 26. Detergent cylinder chamber 26 is defined by the space between the opposing dishwashing s rt s peripheral surfaces on the exterior of tube 19 and interior rigid tube 19 and is axially slidable thereon. Its movement is limited by tongue 32 which extends inwardly from an end of piston 31 remote from cylinder chamber 26 into recess 33 in rigid tube 19. A sealed slidable fit is provided between detergent piston 31 and detergent cylinder chamber 26 within which it is fitted.

Piston 31 is slidably responsive to fluid pressure changes within cylinder chamber 26. It moves within cylinder chamber 26 from a detergent loading position, as shown in FIGURE 8, where detergent cylinder chamber 26 only communicates with detergent reservoir 18, through detergent cylinder chamber loading ports 29, and a detergent ejection position, as shown in FIGURE 9, where detergent cylinder chamber 26 only communicates with rigid tube 19 through detergent admission port 25. Thus, movement of cylindrical member 27 toward inlet 17 will cause fluid pressure to increase within detergent cylinder chamber 26, and piston 31 to move in response thereto. The relative location of piston 31, detergent admission port 25 and loading ports 29, is such that piston 31 blocks detergent admission port 25 in the detergent loading position, as shown in FIGURE 8, and blocks detergent loading ports 29 in the detergent ejection position, as shown in FIG- URE 9.

Finger bar 39 projects from opposite sides of hollow handle 13 close enough to hand heel suction cup 41 that it can be gripped by the fingers of a persons hand, the heel of which is placed on suction cup 41. Since increased squeezing of the finger grip 39 and suction cup 41 will cause detergent reservoir 18 to slide axially along hollow handle 13, these elements will be referred to as a plunger means. Detergent reservoir 18 is slidably urged toward spray outlet end of hollow handle 13 by resilient spring 43 to the position shown in FIGURES and 8.

Located on the end of detergent reservoir 18, remote from ring 20, is a filling valve which includes a disc .45 having filling ports 46. Adjacent to disc 45 is funnel 47, which can be rotated around tube 19. Funnel 47 has a plurality of filling ports 48 in its bottom portion, which can be turned so as to coincide with filling ports 46 in adjacent dis-c 45 of detergent reservoir 18, as shown in FIGURE 7, or by rotating funnel 47, close filling ports 46 by covering them with solid portions in the bottom of funnel 47.

In another embodiment of this invention shown in FIGURE 12, the filling valve is comprised of an elastomeric valve closing cup 50 tightly fitted around rigid tube 19 within detergent reservoir 18, and adjacent thereto is an elastomeric split valve disc 52 (which is a solid piece of material fitted around tube 19 from which radial splits 52a extend, as shown in FIGURE 13) and perforated valve disc 54. The valve discs 52 and 54 are in the bottom of funnel 47. Filling ports 55 are provided in valve disc 54, which is in turn resiliently urged by abutting spring 43 toward the junction of funnel 47, and adjacent closing cup 50. In the closed position, split valve disc 52, in combination with annular washer 56, forms a fluid-tight seal between closing cup 50 and filling ports 55 of valve disc 54. When this filling valve is opened by squeezing finger bar 39 and suction cup 41 together, closing cup 50 is separated from split disc 52, so that detergent under pressure can be forced through filling ports 55 between the splits 52a into detergent reservoir 18. That is, when pressure is released from resilient split valve disc 52, by separating closing cup 50 therefrom, the splits can be bent to increase their size so that an unobstructed passageway between the members is provided.

Attached to fluid inlet 17 of hollow handle 13 is flexible connector tube 61, which provides a conduit for directing fluid from a fluid source such as water faucet 65. Adapter valve 67, secured to the faucet 65, includes a connection nipple 67a, to which the end of connector tube 61 is secured.

Fastener 68 provides the pivotal point for axial rotation of the valve 67 to move the valve to allow water to pass into conduit 61 or a bypass 69. Selector plate 63 contains a bypass outlet 69, through which water from water faucet 65 can be diverted by turning selector plate 63 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The turning movement of selector plate 63 is limited by movement of stud 71, which projects through curved slot 73. When turned to the position shown in FIGURE 4, water can flow from the attached water faucet 65 through conduit or tube 61. Water from bypass 69 is absolutely detergent free.

In operation, the detergent reservoir 18 is filled with a suitable amount of fluid detergent through filling valve 45, which is opened by turning funnel 47 in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, or by squeezing the plunger means in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 12.

Faucet 65 is turned on and selector plate 63 is opened so that water will flow down conduit 61, through rigid tube 19 within hollow handle 13, and be sprayed out spray outlets 16. Water of desired temperature and quantity is controlled through faucet 65.

By gripping the device so that suction cup brace 41 is seated in the heel of a hand, and the fingers of the hand grasp finger bar 39, a person can squeeze the plunger means so as to cause detergent reservoir 18 to slide axially along hollow handle 13. As the plunger means is squeezed, piston 31 moves within detergent cylinder chamber 26, causing detergent admission port 25 to open, detergent loading ports 29 to close, and fluid detergent contained within detergent cylinder chamber 26 to be ejected through detergent admission port 25 into rigid tube 19. The fluid detergent is mixed with water flowing through rigid tube 19 into mixing chamber 15, and is sprayed out spray outlets 16 adjacent bristles 23 for the washing operation. Releasing the plunger means causes spring 43 to urge detergent reservoir 18 to slide back toward mixing chamber 15, piston 31 to move from detergent cylinder chamber 26, detergent admission port 25 to close, and detergent loading ports 31 to open so that fluid detergent within detergent reservoir 18 can flow into and fill detergent cylinder chamber 26.

When the plunger means is squeezed, the amount of fluid detergent ejected into rigid tube 19 is limited to the amount carried in detergent cylinder 26. Thus, a metering system is provided for the fluid detergent. Each time the plunger means is squeezed, additional quantities of detergent are ejected in increments equal to the capacity of the detergent cylinder chamber 26. When the plunger means is released, detergent cylinder chamber 26 is filled with detergent which flows from detergent reservoir 18.

The dishwashing apparatus herein described can be made from a wide variety of materials so long as they are sufficiently durable to withstand the abuse of normal usage. It is deemed preferable, however, to make the exterior of the detergent reservoir of a clear plastic so that it can be visually ascertained when it needs to be refilled with fluid detergent. The parts of the apparatus which are in sliding engagement with each other should preferably be made of sturdy, relatively smooth material to lessen frictional drag, and the sealed portions should provide fluid-tight engagement of the associated members.

In operation closing cup 50 is so positioned on tube 19 that it opens port 55 in disc 54 when bar 39 and cup 41 are squeezed together. A dual function is therefore accomplished in that the ports 55 are opened to permit filling and the detergent admission port 25 is closed during this operation to prevent passage of water into the detergent reservoir 18.

The dishwashing apparatus when normally used in an inclined position, with the brush down, prevents detergent spillage from the apparatus and also permits easy gravity loading of the reservoir with liquid detergent.

Though preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, the invention is not intended to be limited thereto, but to co-extend with the scope and spirit of the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Dishwashing apparatus comprising: a brush having a fluid passageway therethrough terminating in fluid spray outlets; a hollow handle with said brush mounted on an end thereof, an inner tubular portion of said hollow handle having a fluid outlet communicating with the passageway through the brush and said fluid inlet in the end of the hollow handle remote from the brush so that fluid entering the fluid inlet can flow through the hollow handle and out the spray outlets; an integral detergent reservoir forming the periphery of said hollow handle; a detergent cylinder within said detergent reservoir that communicates both with the detergent reservoir and the inner tubular portion of said hollow handle; said hollow handle, detergent cylinder and detergent reservoir having a common, longitudinal axis, ejection means for directly controllably releasing fluid contained within the detergent reservoir into the detergent cylinder and from the detergent cylinder into the inner tubular portion of the hollow handle; said ejection means including a piston slidably supported within said detergent cylinder and having a common longitudinal axis therewith, which is movable between a detergent loading position where the detergent cylinder only communicates with the detergent reservoir and a detergent mixing position where the detergent cylinder only communicates with the inner tubular portion of the hollow handle; and manually controllable plunger means which can actuate said piston within the detergent cylinder so as to move it between the detergent loading position and the detergent mixing position.

2. Dishwashing apparatus comprising: a brush including a fluid chamber and spray outlets, a hollow handle means mounted on said brush, said hollow handle including an inner tubular portion slidably mountable and extending coaxially therethrough and aflixed at one end to said brush fluid chamber, the other end of said inner tubular portion being fitted to receive Water so that water may flow through said inner tubular portion to said brush spray outlets, said hollow handle means forming a detergent reservoir around said inner tubular portion, ejection means for controllably releasing fluid detergent in said reservoir to said inner tubular portion for mixing with said water and delivery to said brush, said ejection means including an annular sleeve surrounding said inner tubular portion and spaced therefrom, forming a detergent cylinder chamber therebetween, a piston slidably mounted on said inner tubular portion and adapted to move in said chamber between a detergent loading position where there is only communication between said reservoir and said chamber and an extended detergent mixing position where there is only communication between said chamber and the inner tubular portion whereby the detergent in said chamber will be evacuated into said water for mixed delivery to said brush, and exterior manual hand means for activating said ejection means.

3. Dishwashing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein bristles of the brush encircle the spray outlets and the spray outlets are oriented so as to deflect fluid flowing therefrom against said bristles.

4. Dishwashing apparatus as defined in claim 2, in combination with a connector tube wherein one end of said connector tube communicates with the fluid inlet of the hollow handle and the other end communicates with a source of fluid, said connector tube having adjustable valve means for controlling the amount of fluid flowing through said connector tube from the source of fluid to the hollow handle.

5. Dishwashing apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein movement of the piston within the detergent cylinder toward the detergent mixing position forces detergent contained therein into the inner tubular portion of the hollow handle.

6. Dishwashing apparatus comprising: a brush with circularly arranged bristles, said brush having a passageway therethrough which terminates in a plurality of spray outlets adjacent said circularly arranged bristles, said spray outlets being oriented so as to spray fluid adjacent said bristles; a tubular member upon which said brush is mounted having a fluid inlet on the end remote from the fluid spray outlets, a fluid outlet end communicating with the brush passageway, and a detergent admission port in termediate the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, a cylindrical detergent reservoir surrounding said tubular member at least around the portion thereof having the detergent admission port, said detergent reservoir having closable detergent filling inlets; a detergent cylinder supported within said detergent reservoir, said detergent cylinder opening into the detergent reservoir through detergent loading ports and opening into the tubular member through the detergent inlet; a piston slidably supported within said detergent cylinder movable between a loading position where the detergent cylinder only communicates with the detergent reservoir and a detergent mixing position where the detergent cylinder only communicates with the tubular member; manually controllable plunger means for moving said piston from the detergent loading position to the detergent mixing position where it is capable of simultaneously forcing fluid detergent contained within the detergent cylinder into the tubular member; a connector tube attached between the fluid inlet of the tubular member and a source of fluid, said connector tube having adjustable valve means for controlling the amount of fluid flowing through said connector tube from the source of fluid to the fluid inlet of the tubular member; and wherein the detergent filling inlet for the detergent reservoir includes a filling valve which is opened by moving the controllable plunger means and associated piston to the detergent mixing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,275 5/1941 Ewan 239-315 XR 2,671,691 3/1954 Schnell 15526 2,689,767 9/1954 Darbunghaus 15526 2,719,994 10/1955 Dorsey 15-526 2,934,314 4/1960 Chambers et al 15526 2,975,804 3/1961 Dunn et al. 1S526 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

